Incorporating Technology into Managing the HCC Process

What role can technology really play when it comes to managing the HCC process? Practically speaking, technology can make the process smoother by prospectively tracking patients and ensuring required data is collected and verified.

Technology is impacting HCC management via proactive identification of at-risk patients. Some are using available solutions to reach out to these identified patients throughout the year to schedule annual appointments. In addition, other steps can be taken to utilize technology in preparation for patient encounters.

3 HCC Preparation Steps

The following preparation steps can be taken to get more value from your HCC related technology.

Step 1: Review & Flag

All upcoming schedules can be reviewed with at-risk patients flagged in the system.

Step 2: Diagnosis Identification

For those patients flagged in step 1, identify all diagnoses from the previous year.

Step 3: Reporting

With the prior steps completed, a comprehensive report of all relevant patient data can be provided before each visit.

These steps help deliver a solid report for physician access. However, it is also important to allocate time for physicians to review and sufficiently note all pertinent conditions and treatment plans. This final step will help increase accuracy and efficiency.

The Goal is Real-time Analysis

The overarching goal is to allow for concurrent, real-time analysis of information that needs to be documented by the physician during upcoming patient appointments. A proper technology solution should arm the physicians with a checklist of required information to help efficiently document the encounter with the patient and adequately capture the data in the electronic health record.

After the patient visit, the system should also review the physician’s documentation to ensure the MEAT guidelines are met and current diagnoses are valid. In the event of any discrepancies, your HCC solution should notify the acting physician additional documentation is needed.

In the end, implementing technology to assist with the HCC process streamlines a detailed process for physicians. HCC technology can help take the administrative burden off the shoulders of doctors and their busy schedules. This, in turn, will allow physicians to do what they are trained to do, treat patients. Technology also helps to alleviate the requirement for retrospective audits by validating that all required documentation that has been documented to support the HCC’s proactively.

The practices described above are key foundational elements that ultimately ensure correct coding is achieved and accurate HCC identification is met.